OUR LITTLE HERO
True Sportsmanship

A cold wind blew across the Ozark Hills and light snow "dusted" the parking lot. Inside the building at Ozark Mountain Gymnastics the antics of happy, excited children heated up the room.
It was Fetlework's tenth birthday. Her basketball team mates and other friends were there to celebrate at the sleep-over, attended by young and not so young including other adopted Ethiopian children.
She had come a long way in miles and environment in the nearly two years since she left the orphanage in Ethiopia.
There she had been confined within the compound walls, one of only two deaf children at Agohelma orphanage, which was founded and operated by Waizero (Mrs.) Ababech Gobena, and she shared what little she had with more than a dozen others in a barracks style room.
Now she sleeps in her own bed in a room by herself, attends public schools, is a straight A student, and plays soccer on an undefeated championship team as well as basketball.

When time came for refreshments the din subsided and soon the children gathered to present their gifts.
They were strange gifts for a ten year old; little stuffed animals and dolls and other toys more suited for much smaller children.
Finally there a big wooden plaque was unwrapped. It was inscribed with this message:

True Sportsmanship
Instead of keeping birthday gifts,
This sweet and special dove
Wants to give gifts to kids in need
Because her heart is full of love.
The only gift she wants to "keep"
is to keep playing basketball.
Happy birthday Fetla
You are a blessing to us all.


Photo collage by Poppy

The child had told her mother she has all she needs and only wanted gifts to send to the "brown babies" in Ethiopia. That is what she got. (To be delivered by folks who will be going to Ethiopia to "bring home" their adopted ones.)

HEROES Neal and Rebekah Payne True Heroes reunite . Neal and Rebekah in Ethiopia The Paynes have been separated for two years and recently reunited in Ethiopia for a brief time. Rebekah lives in Addis Ababa Ethiopia where she operates LeaMcD Educational Services for the Deaf of Ethiopia while Neal stays in the USA and drives a truck. He sends all the income he doesn't need to Rebekah for operation of the school. The deaf youth are taught by deaf teachers and have a much better rate of success in passing national exams than those who only attend government schools. At the present time students receive tutoring and augment the teaching they receive from mission and government schools. There is also employment training, employment placement and many other programs dedicated not only to deaf young people but also the "older" deaf including a deaf pastor, sign language training for families of the deaf, and a classroom opened on Sunday where the deaf conduct their own church services. Rebekah lives in a room at the school compound and Neal lives in the sleeper cab of his truck. "No good deed is left unpunished". Is an oft repeated phrase some would apply to Neal and Rebekah.They, however, subscribe to a different way of thinking. God's Word. "Let us not be weary in well doing." (Galations 6:8) is much more appropriate to them. Recently there have been several unfounded legal "attacks" on LeaMcD of a very personal nature to Rebekah, the result of the necessity of removing several nonproductive, rebellious staff nearly two years ago. For about twenty years Ethiopia was a communist state. It is also the fourth poorest country in the world. The prevailing attitude among so many is: "White Americans and white Europeans are rich and we deserve some of their money." Bribes paid to judges and other government officials is an almost routine way of doing business. A few weeks ago Rebekah was hours away from a jail sentence because of this. Legal adviser Ejigu (say ehjeegoo) GabreMichael has done a superb job of defending LeaMcD and getting the complaints removed one by one as they surface. He also has been very patient to wait for payment. If you can, please help with this. Otherwise it will be necessary to stop paying rent on one of the two compounds which will result in the loss of classrooms and opportunity for the young deaf. There is further financial burden due to the loss of Neal's income while he visited, plus the travel costs incurred.

Vernon and Rebecca Blitch with Fetlework and Yonatan, adopted from Ethiopia Who we are Ethiopian Child is a 501(c)(3) non profit corporation dedicated to helping with educational and developmental needs of deaf and orphaned youth in Ethiopia. We have teamed with LeaMcD Educational Services for the deaf of Ethiopia. November 2008 opened the only high school for the deaf in a city of five million people. rn more Lea LeaMcD Educational Services for the Deaf of Ethiopia Quick Link Ethiopian Child Charlie and Carol Brown Rebecca and Vernon Blitch papabos@juno.com http://www.ethiopianchild.org

A Few Current Needs at LeaMcD Help with deferring cost of Neal's trip Help with payment of legal fees Construct building for high school classes $ 6,000.00 Transport Van $35,000.00 Computers for technology training (ea) $ 500.00 Monthly sponsorships (per student) $ 35.00 Sports equipment 6 balls, soccer, etc $ 200.00 Prep and grade sports field $ 1,500.00 Lunch program (month) $ 200.00

A Hero Passes
Haregowin Teferra rescued orphans of Ethiopia
1946-March 17 2009


Haregowin Teferra consoles an abandoned newborn 10/08
Photo by Charlie

Haregowin Teferra was "armpit tall" (I have a photo standing next to her that proves it) but she was a giant of a human. Her "heart" was as big as all Ethiopia, (about twice the size of Texas) and there was never an orphaned child she didn't love.
Some might say she was a little round for her height, but she was just right for snuggling a lonely, crying, frightened, abandoned child.
Sometimes there would be a loud noise at the compound gate. When the guard opened it, often there was a newborn wrapped in a blanket lying on the ground. No one else would be in sight. Or, perhaps a mother, stricken with AIDS, would hand over her child; or a policeman, or maybe a priest, would would bring a baby to her.
Although many were orphaned by the dreaded AIDS virus, for others there is no history, just a needy child.
When it is all said and done she was foster mother to 400 children, maybe more!
We miss you Haregowin.
To learn more about Haregowin and the plight of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa go to: There is no Me without You or: Foster Mother.